OSHA announced that its 2008 Site-Specific Targeting () plan will focus on approximately 3,800 high-hazard worksites on its primary list for unannounced comprehensive safety inspections over the coming year.
"We will make effective use of our inspection resources to focus our targeted inspection program on those workplaces with the highest injury and illness rates," Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. said. "This program emphasizes to employers the importance of our enforcement efforts in ensuring safe working conditions for employees."
Over the past 10 years, OSHA has used a site-specific targeting inspection program based on injury and illness data. This year's program (SST-08) was developed using the agency's Data Initiative for 2007, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to obtain their injury and illness numbers for 2006.
This program will initially cover about 3,800 individual worksites on the primary list that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses, resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees (known as the DART rate). The primary list will also include sites based on a "Days Away from Work Injury and Illness" (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher (9 or more cases that involve days away from work per 100 full-time employees). Employers not on the primary list, who reported DART rates of between 7.0 and 11.0, or DAFWII rates of between 5.0 and 9.0, will be placed on a secondary list for possible inspection. The national DART rate in 2006 for private industry was 2.3, while the national DAFWII rate was 1.3.
The agency will also randomly select and inspect about 175 workplaces (with 100 or more employees) across the nation that reported low injury and illness rates for the purpose of reviewing their actual degree of compliance with OSHA requirements. These establishments are selected from those industries with above the national DART and DAFWII rates.
Finally, the agency will include on the primary list some establishments that did not respond to the 2007 data survey.
Entergy Transmission and Substations in Louisiana Achieve OSHA VPP Status
The Entergy Transmission and Substations' Lake Charles/Scott site has earned membership in the prestigious OSHA Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) at the "star," or highest, level. Bruce Stark, VPP coordinator in OSHA's Baton Rouge, La., area office, attended a recognition ceremony held at the company's facility on North Ryan Street in Lake Charles.
"The Entergy Transmission and Substations has demonstrated excellence in safety and health management," OSHA Regional Administrator Dean W. McDaniel said. "Its outstanding efforts include maintaining an injury and illness rate that is significantly below the national average for the industry."
The 28 employees at the Lake Charles/Scott site manage the transmission and distribution system for delivering electricity to local customers by maintaining and repairing approximately 145 electrical substations located throughout the network.
More than 1,950 worksites nationwide have earned entry into OSHA's VPP. Requirements include a high degree of management support and employee involvement; a high-quality worksite hazard analysis; prevention and control programs; and comprehensive safety and health training for all employees. Each of these elements must be effective, in place and in operation for at least one year before a company can apply to join the VPP.
OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 37 years. This success is reflected in the latest data (2006) showing the lowest national injury and illness incidence rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever recorded. OSHA will continue to work diligently to focus its resources where they will have the most impact in assuring that every working man and woman returns home safely every day.
Ice Plant Faces $90,000 in OSHA Fines for PSM, Fork Truck, and Exit Access Hazards
OSHA has cited Arctic Glacier Inc. of Fairport, N.Y., for 20 alleged serious violations of OSHA health and safety standards. The ice manufacturer faces $90,000 in proposed fines for incomplete or inadequate safeguards for its refrigeration system and other hazards at its 900 Turk Hill Road plant.
The bulk of the citations cover deficiencies in the plant's process safety management () program.
"Process safety management demands constant, effective attention and commitment because the consequences of a leak or other incident can be severe and catastrophic," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "While it's fortunate no accident occurred, safeguarding employees against death or serious injury cannot and must never be left to chance."
OSHA's inspection found that all plant employees had not been informed about the plant's PSM plan and updates to its emergency response plan; incomplete process hazard analyses and follow through; no means of verifying employees' PSM training; infrequent and incomplete inspections and testing of process equipment; lack of proper procedures to manage process changes; incomplete responses to process compliance audits; and a lack of oversight and information to contract employees working in process areas.
OSHA also identified hazards associated with fork trucks, including untrained employees and the loading of a 6,950-pound fork truck onto an elevator with a weight capacity of only 4,000 pounds; inadequate or unmarked emergency exit routes; unguarded open-sided floors; an unguarded wrapping machine; and use of an electric heater in a battery charging area.
A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Buffalo Area Office; telephone 716-551-3053.
OSHA Cites United Airlines at O'Hare International Airport
OSHA has cited United Airlines Inc. in Chicago, Ill., for alleged multiple serious, willful, and repeat violations of federal workplace safety and health standards, and has proposed $192,500 in fines.
As a result of its latest inspection, initiated in November 2007, OSHA has issued citations for 39 serious violations with proposed penalties totaling $112,000. OSHA also has cited United Airlines for one willful violation with a proposed $70,000 fine, one repeat violation with a $7,500 fine, and three other-than-serious violations totaling $3,000 in penalties.
OSHA selected United Airlines for this inspection after reviewing occupational injury and illness data, which included ramp services, customer service, air freight, aircraft and ground equipment maintenance, building/facility maintenance, business operations, strategic procurement, medical facilities, and flight attendant operations.
Some of the serious violations address health hazards associated with the design of flammable liquid storage cabinets and rooms, an open-sided tank containing corrosive liquid, respiratory protection program deficiencies, and failure to conduct an asbestos survey to determine the presence and quantity of materials containing asbestos. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
The willful violation addresses the health hazards associated with United Airlines failing to provide awareness training to employees that work in areas where asbestos is known to be present. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.
The repeat violation addresses hazards associated with containers of hazardous chemicals not appropriately labeled. A repeat violation is defined as a violation that was previously cited where, upon re-inspection, a substantially similar violation is found.
An other-than-serious violation is a hazardous condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm but would have an immediate relationship to the safety and health of employees.
"These violations should not exist at any worksite," said Diane Turek, director of OSHA's Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines, Ill. "They are problems that can be avoided if an employer is dedicated to protecting employees. Employers must remain dedicated to keeping the workplace safe and healthful or face close scrutiny by this agency."
United Airlines has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Since 2004, OSHA has inspected United Airlines 23 times at various locations nationwide. United Airlines operations at O'Hare International Airport have been inspected nine times since 2000 with four of those inspections resulting in citations.
Thomas Electronics Cited for Chemical, Fire, Electrical, Exit Access, and Other Hazards
OSHA cited Thomas Electronics for 29 alleged willful, serious, and other-than-serious violations of safety standards. Thomas Electronics of New York Inc. faces a total of $151,100 in proposed fines following OSHA inspections begun in November 2007 in response to an employee complaint.
"The citations address a variety of hazards which, left uncorrected, expose employees to chemical burns, fire, electrocution, lacerations, amputation, falls and crushing injuries, and impede their ability to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of a fire or other emergency," said Christopher Adams, OSHA's area director in Syracuse. "The sizable proposed fines reflect the breadth and seriousness of the cited conditions and emphasize the need for this employer to take prompt and effective corrective action."
Specifically, two willful citations, accounting for $100,000 in fines, have been issued for lack of eye and face protection for employees working with hydrofluoric acid and the lack of a hazard communication program to provide employees with the knowledge to identify and protect themselves against the hazardous chemicals with which they work.
OSHA has issued 24 serious citations, with $49,700 in fines, for unmarked exit doors and routes blocked by equipment and snow; improper storage of combustible materials; inadequate paint spray booth safeguards; lack of specific training and equipment to lock out machines' power sources to prevent their unintended startup; lack of personal protective equipment and training; adequate first-aid supplies not readily available; unguarded moving machine parts; a variety of electrical and electrical-related hazards; excess air pressure for a cleaning hose; and no initial lead exposure determination.
The agency also has issued three other-than-serious citations, with $1,400 in fines, for not maintaining a log of injuries and illnesses for 2006 and 2007; failure to provide respirator information; and not conducting regular and periodic inspections of mechanical power presses.